Undercover Paramus cop shot during drug sting leaves hospital

By RICHARD COWEN

Staff Writer |

The Record

An undercover Paramus policeman who was injured Tuesday in a buy-and-bust operation at a Garfield shopping plaza was released from the hospital on Saturday.

“We are pleased to announce that our police officer who was shot and wounded earlier this week has been released from the hospital,” the Paramus Police Department said in Facebook post. “On behalf of the Paramus Police Department and PBA Local 186, we would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time.”

The officer, whose identity has been withheld by the county Prosecutor’s Office to protect his undercover status, was shot in the hip and the lower leg on Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center on Passaic Street. The officer was attempting to make a $400 purchase of marijuana from three men as part of a sting operation.

He was allegedly shot during a robbery attempt by a suspect identified as Angel Vasquez, 25, of Passaic. Vasquez was subsequently shot by cops and has been charged with attempted murder. He is due in court on Monday.

Two other suspects — Patrick Morel, 21, of Clifton, and Melvin Guzman, 19, of Garfield — have been charged as accomplices with first-degree robbery. They are being held in the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.

In the same Facebook posting, the Paramus police asked residents to pray for Daniel Breslin, the Bergen County police officer who was critically injured on April 19. Breslin was on duty and parked in a police sport utility vehicle on the shoulder of Route 46 in Lodi when it was struck from behind by Michael Ettz, 36, a Lodi High School teacher. Ettz was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Undercover Paramus cop shot during drug sting leaves hospital

By RICHARD COWEN

Staff Writer |

The Record

An undercover Paramus policeman who was injured Tuesday in a buy-and-bust operation at a Garfield shopping plaza was released from the hospital on Saturday.

“We are pleased to announce that our police officer who was shot and wounded earlier this week has been released from the hospital,” the Paramus Police Department said in Facebook post. “On behalf of the Paramus Police Department and PBA Local 186, we would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time.”

The officer, whose identity has been withheld by the county Prosecutor’s Office to protect his undercover status, was shot in the hip and the lower leg on Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center on Passaic Street. The officer was attempting to make a $400 purchase of marijuana from three men as part of a sting operation.

He was allegedly shot during a robbery attempt by a suspect identified as Angel Vasquez, 25, of Passaic. Vasquez was subsequently shot by cops and has been charged with attempted murder. He is due in court on Monday.

Two other suspects — Patrick Morel, 21, of Clifton, and Melvin Guzman, 19, of Garfield — have been charged as accomplices with first-degree robbery. They are being held in the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.

In the same Facebook posting, the Paramus police asked residents to pray for Daniel Breslin, the Bergen County police officer who was critically injured on April 19. Breslin was on duty and parked in a police sport utility vehicle on the shoulder of Route 46 in Lodi when it was struck from behind by Michael Ettz, 36, a Lodi High School teacher. Ettz was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.